Letters

The proposed athletic field on Marsden Street in Sag Harbor is not the best use of the 4-acre property, in the opinion of a number of local residents — and we agree.

We also don’t see the use of Community Preservation Fund revenues for an athletic field squarely in a residential area as a good use of those funds, even if it is permissible.

The owner/developer of the property has proposed building several luxury homes, which also was not seen as desirable by some local residents, although he may have the right to do so if the Sag Harbor Village boards approve his plan.

We, at East End YIMBY, don’t see a stated shortage of athletic fields to be as high of a priority as the need for teacher housing.

Recent market research shows that East End residents see housing for teachers and school staff as its highest priority, with housing for volunteer firefighters, EMTs, health care workers, seniors and young people who grew up on the East End very important as well.

With difficulty recruiting and retaining teachers, and a reportedly dropping enrollment in one of the more popular school districts on the East End, we believe the Marsden Street property would better serve the community by containing a number of low-density one-, two- and three-bedroom townhomes, cottages and smaller homes that could be rented or sold to local teachers, school staff and local residents. Deed restrictions could ensure that those homes would be “affordable” for purchase and/or only available for year-round rentals.

“Missing Middle” (missingmiddle.com) housing is badly needed in Sag Harbor, and this site could be developed beautifully, maintaining the character we so embrace in Sag Harbor.

It might also be considered for 1 or 2 of the 4 acres to be preserved via the Community Preservation Fund, with existing development rights transferred to the remaining property, which could be developed as clustered Missing Middle housing.

We look forward to continued dialogue between the community, the School Board, the Town of Southampton and the village to arrive at the best path forward for all.

Michael Daly

East End YIMBY